Brandi's Blog

Aspiring Author Sparking Thoughts

Current Mood: Confused

I am done with TRUE SIGHT, well done with the first draft. Now what to do??? I have a ton of different ideas, maybe you can help narrow it down.

1. Non-fiction Tween Book to help kids and parents communicate about life and all the ups and downs.

2. Non-fiction book for engineers with no personalities.

3. A YA book about a boy, his sister, parents and a NEW TOWN. Scary book with wolf/bears and sacrifices.

4. Sevens Series, books based on the seven deadly sins and how teens survive by the grace of God. YA books that are dark and interesting with a hint of faith and love.

5. A twist on immaculate conception. In my version it’s not the son of God that comes to earth, but GOD’S BEST FRIEND.

           OK – what do you think? I love them all.

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Wings

Written by Aprilynne Pike

Aprilynne Pike

Wings is well in a word…Faeryastic! I loved the book. It was a new twist to an old fairytale. This was my first Faery book and I really, really loved it. It was recommended by Jackson Pearce, fellow author and funny gal..Thanks!

 The book centers around Laurel, a beautiful, sweet, strange teen. Laurel is an excellent character. She is as human as you or me, but not quiet just a human. Adopted by her loving parents she grows up home schooled. When she starts public high school she has to make friends and learn to be a normal girl. All the while she struggled with her own weirdness she found a connection in a great guy, David. David is calm and sweet, the kind of guy every girl would love to be best friends with and even more.

 The slowness of the first half builds up to a very dramatic ending. I kept fighting the urge to read ahead. Enter the handsome and mysterious Tamani. He is the kind of character you want desperately and love to hate the fact that he’s actually not able to be real. David could be real he could be a guy you know or grew up with. Tamani is something different, something strange and mysterious. I wanted to know all about him. I want to know what he can do and how he does it. I really want to know if he and Laurel are going to pollinate… You’ll have to read Wings to know what I mean by that.

 I really do recommend this book, it’s a great read.

 I give it 4 1/2 Bran Stars!   

 + 1/2 Bran Star

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I’ve stumbled onto my new obsession….Book Trailers. I know your asking yourself.. What is that? Well for those of you that have been living under a rock like I have, they are a wonderful way to get across your book visually and musically. I love putting music to a novel, it sets the tone for the reader. Here are a bunch of books on u-tube. Check them out! Some I want to read right away like Hush Hush and others are great trailers but not my taste. Of course you have the trailers that totally suck too. You will have to be the judge. 

Nathan Bransford,agent, had a guest blogger on today that wrote about how easy it was to do his own trailer. Now I have to do it! Oh course I will be spending the next month playing and obsessing. Damn you Nathan.

I would love to hear what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UsDkZ1Ej5I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kYv8Vc9tFQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWNGIRTU2u4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_UUVwTaemk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7IpLhITWvs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrZ7IsA79ck

This is a clip by Jakson Pierce – she is hysterical!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ_-TOJhXXk

Note to self: Learn how to add an actual youtube video not just the links!

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At First Sight

Written by Nicholas Sparks 

Nicholas Sparks is a well known author of books (and movies) like Nights in Rodanthe, The Notebook, etc.. I picked up this second hand book for $.50 at a flee market. It’s a good thing too because I would never pay full price for this novel. I expected to love it, he’s a NYT Best Seller. It was the most awful book I have ever read! I know that sounds harsh, but really, it was terrible.

The story starts off bumpy, a sad man pining for some lost love. Then poof to the past where this NY writer (so cheesy writing about a writer) leaves NY for a small town girl he fell in love with in a day. I am a believer in love at fist sight, that’s what my novel is about, but this was stupid. The book is written in a man’s voice, Jeremy. He’s an ok character but boring. He never really does anything. Most of the book is spent in his head talking about his thoughts, which are shallow and stupid. He loves Lexi, she is his soul mate. OK that’s great. But then he gets some random e-mails and begins to question her love, her honesty, and the baby she is caring. I mean, COME ON! If you love someone unconditionally why would some random e-mail upset you? It just doesn’t make since. Why wouldn’t you just talk about it? The whole thing was dumb. I found myself reading the first three pages of a chapter then the last three, all the crap in the middle just sucked eggs.  

 He actually complained in chapter 15 about being rejected (sexually) after they got married. He remembered the exact date! What a tool. Then there is a problem with the pregnancy, which is drama but not the kind I like. Then when it was time to go to the hospital he took a long shower and clipped his nails. Who does that? What kind of husband/father is that selfish? Then he does the unthinkable, blames the baby. I won’t give away the end. I can say that the very last chapter was the best in the entire book.

Bottom line, Jeremy is a jealous hysterical man most of the book. You can just skip CH 1 through 18. Start at 19, it finally gets interesting. I can see what Sparks was trying to do. He wanted to show true love and true loss, but fell short.

 I give this book two Bran Stars.

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It’s Christmas morning and I am typing on my new ASUS 12″ netbook. It is amazing and I love it! The best gift from my beloved husband. I am a blessed women.

This morning I was thinking about Mary and what she must of been feeling 2009 years ago. Not only looking at the face of her child but at the face of God himself. What a wonderful moment for her. Today I not only celebrate the birth of our savior but the mother that brought him into this world.

God Bless Everyone!

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Like most of you, this time of year I reflect on what I have and haven’t accomplished in 2009. My life took a dramatic turn in March. I fell in love with books and desperately wanted to become an author. It’s amazing how your entire life can change in a moment. I didn’t push away the desire or talk myself out of it. I knew it would be hard, I knew there was a great possibility for failure. But none of that stopped me and I moved forward. I was able to write a beautiful novel that I love. I met a ton of new people with similar interests in my meetup.com group. I found something in common with my mother that has brought us closer than ever. I realized though events that my family is truly amazing (all of them). My in-laws are great and love us so much. My sisters are so amazing and talented. My friends are a wall of strength and support. Even my neighbors are family. 

I’m Especially grateful for my husband. He is the most amazing and wonderful man. I know I gush over him, but he is that great. I am so thankful for him and everything he does for me. I try everyday to show him how much I love him. Our kids are also amazing, so sweet and kind. I can’t say enough about them.

Me and Sylvia putting on the Christmas tree star

I think my faith is the greatest growth this year. I have joined an exceptional church (Faith Church St. Louis). I feel like my soul is changed, softened, happier, filled with hope and true joy. Don’t think I am some crazy bible thumper. I have really embraced my relationship with God and it’s changed my life. Please don’t take this a “preachy” this is just my life, take what you like and leave the rest. I feel blessed and thank God for all that he has given me, especially for you.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love Lots, Laugh Hard and Sing Loud!

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Betrayed”

 2^nd book in The House of Night Series

 By P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

This book picks up a month after Zoey Redbird started at the House of Night vampyre school. Zoey takes over the Dark Daughters, the “school council” for the fledglings. Her and her friends are learning there new roles all the while humans are being killed in Broken Arrow, Zoey’s home town. It was thought that a vampyre is responsible for the deaths. Zoey uses her powers to save the day and battle evil. Bla Bla Bla…

 Ugh, I wanted so much more from this book. Of course I finished it, but the only exciting part was when her BFF Stevie Ray ??? (gotta read it to get it).  The book is transparent at best. There are no real surprises. I could figure out Nephret was bad in the first book, this book just solidified it. I can also see that the two boyfriends, human Heath and vampyre Eric will be a total drama fest. Heath bugs me, he is so annoying and I want to smack him down like a fly. Eric is better, seems hot and sexy, much better than the dopey football player. I still can’t stand the boy drama! Are teens really like this? Was I really like that? Ugh! No wonder I never had a steady boy friend.

 The other characters are ok, not great. I think the twins are terrible! There’re not really twins, one’s mocha colored and the other a pale blond. They ALWAYS call each other twin, it’s the most annoying thing in the whole book. I can’t stand it. I thought I would get use to it and I didn’t. The token “gay” is Damien, he is sweet and likable. Although, his character is a no-it-all and that is annoying. He is always lecturing about proper vocabulary. Who actually does that!  

 The only real person I like is Aphrodite, she is cheeky and a major smart-***. (Keeping it PG). I want more of her and less of the twins and boy drama. Then again, I bet I would have loved this series at 16. I did like it, not love it, but enough to say it is worth the read (IF you like YA books).

 I don’t know how I feel about the Goddess Nynx. It’s a little too far-fetched for me. I can accept it because it’s a fiction and I would totally love the cool powers she gives. I especially want the tattoos, which would be awesome.

  I was left with the question, do I feel betrayed or just bored?

 With all that said, I give it three Bran Stars.

Of course I read the next book in the series … review coming soon.

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“Marked”

 By P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Marked is a young adult book set in today’s world, with a twist. The most beautiful, most powerful and utterly yummy people are all vampyres. When you are “marked” with a sapphire crescent moon right on your forehead, you are then a fledgling vampire. This is the story of Zoey Redbird’s new life. She leaves old friends, some that won’t go away, for the new and exciting life as a fledgling at the House of Night school for vamps.

 Is it believable? Sort of. I like the supernatural elements, but its context is confusing to my system. Maybe I am lacking imagination, but I can’t see my world with vampyres running around. I guess the idea of bringing that world to “light” is just a little hard to imagine. I think it’s much easier when it’s underground and maybe just maybe it could be true. What is the deal with the spelling of vampyre! My Microsoft Word keeps trying to change it to vampire. I read on Amazon that the P.C. just liked the spelling. I say, go for it. It’s different and cool. It helps brand the books. It’s a good marketing tool.

 The only thing I really don’t like is all the boy drama. I know it’s a teenage book, I know that as a teen there is a lot of boy drama, but it’s still a little irritating to my thirty something mind.

This is my Sylvia

 There were some good characters, Stevie Ray, and some bad, the twins. OMG, the twins were so ridicules. I can’t stand the way they call each other “twin”, all the time. It actually distracted me when reading. They brought in sex (just a little) and the cursing isn’t bad, it’s believable (sadly) for teens to talk like that. Of course the “hag from hell” Aphrodite is defeated in the end. Although I can see the proverbial “writing on the wall”, she will have a much bigger role in the books to come. She has too; her personality is one that you love to hate. I love Zoey’s grandmother, Sylvia, and it’s not because that’s my daughters name (but it helps). She is sweet old Cherokee woman with a kind soul, she is well written and I wish I could sit down and have tea with her. Zoey is “special” everyone knows it but her. She is strong, yet vulnerable. She is young and still learning about herself. I like her, I won’t say love, but she’s growing on me.

to four Bran Stars.

P.S. You can get “marked” on the official House of Night website, too cool! Also check out the pictures of your favorite charaters. Zoey looks WAY to old to be 16.

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Last night I sat at my meet-up group. Friends all around, my mother by my side and typed the last sentence and the elusive “The End” to my first novel TRUE SIGHT.

I can not explain the excitement! My hands were shaking, my stomach turned, it was pure elation. Almost automatically the characters in my head stopped yelling and went quiet (I know sounds nuts). The story is out!

My wonderful and amazing husband congratulated me when I got home. He’s been so supportive. Some husbands would be like, “Glad that’s over” or “Now you can get back to life.” etc.. But, not my husband. He simply asked, “What’s next?”. He didn’t expect me to stop, he wasn’t jealous of the time I spend with my novel, he is the most amazing man. I know I have a great husband when I lay in bed thinking about how to be a better wife, not because I’m bad, because he’s that good. Not to mention my two beautiful kids, Bailey and Sylvia. You inspire me to be a  better mom every day!

I want to thank my mother, Bonnie Allen (author and publisher) with LeClere Books. She has been a great inspiration. I must of gotten this talent from her, because she is an amazing writer. She has always supported this dream. I can’t thank her enough.

In addition I want to thank my mother-in-law, Leigh Ann. She has read the entire book and has been a great support. I appreciate everything she does for me and my family.

There are so many friends and family I need to thank, Alex Boles, Jenny Boles, Carissa Conardy, Ron and Melinda Conardy, Tom Schmidt, Mary Beth Schmidt, Katie Schmidt (no relation but BFF), and so many more.

A special thanks to my computer!

So many nights have been spent at the laptop, thank you for not crashing!

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Vamped

Written By, Lucienne Diver

The story begins catching; digging out of your own grave is always interesting. The lighthearted story is about a teenage vampire socialite. She loves, hates, and fears as all teens do. Fighting to keep her fashion sense and save the group of newly vamped teens, she battles stronger, older and sometimes scarier vamps.

 Here what I liked about the book. The main character, Gina Covello, was quick witted and had an air of superiority. She was a great teen drama queen, which could hold her own in a battle. I loved the language and point of view of the book. The writing was an easy read. The author left a lot of loose ends, creating the need for a second book (which i think is called Re-Vamped?).

 Here is what I didn’t like. The story began at her death, that’s fine, but it lost her humanity. Because I, the reader, never saw her as human, it was hard for me to relate on that level (my level). It was strange to me that she automatically loved the boy that turned her, but not because he turned her. It was an awkward transition. I would have liked to see more relationship development between the two of them. Maybe it’s because it’s a teen book, it just seemed too shallow. The story was good, although it happened so fast. Bam, she’s a vamp, bam, she’s in trouble, bam, she saves the day (all in about a week). I like a story that evolves into something. I think it was too unreal for me to be entirely sucked in.

I give Vamped four Bran Stars! It’s a good easy read that will make you laugh and remember your outrageous teenage drama. If you are a teen, you will love it. This would be a great gift for any girl that’s in love with vamps.

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